I am taken with stuffed animals/dolls when they are handmade and they have a certain “wow factor”. I began thinking about making a doll for one of my projects in an art class I took in college. I sketched and out and visualized it in detail but it never made it out of my sketchbook.

In the last few years that urge to create a doll has been growing. I keep seeing neat handmade dolls that inspire. Today, cruising around on Etsy (yes, I’m addicted to this site), I came across a strange beauty (click on the 2nd thumbnail down) that made me stop and marvel. Partially I think that the doll is inspired, partially I like the angle and the way in which it’s lit.

I would love to make a doll/stuffed friend for my son. And, as part of my efforts to make a living, I also envision creating a line of dolls for sale. One of my criteria will be that it be machine washable in hot water so that it can be washed regularly to rid it of dust mites. I recently learned that this is an important issue for many allergy sufferers. Both Billy and I are sensitive to dust/dust mites so we need to make sure our little one has as little mite-y issues to deal with as possible as that helps kids to either not develop allergies, or to delay the onset of them.

This excerpt from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology website helps explain:

Preventing environmental allergies and asthma:

It makes good common sense that, since some airborne substances may trigger allergy or asthma symptoms, reducing contact with these substances early in life may delay or prevent the onset of allergy or asthma symptoms. The evidence for this relationship is clearest in the case of dust mites, which are microscopic creatures related to spiders that are found in large quantities inside the home. Therefore, taking steps to aggressively control dust mites in the homes of high-risk children may reduce the occurrence of dust mite allergy in these children.